No Charges For Texas Cop Who Pinned Down Black Teen At Pool

A grand jury said there was not enough evidence of a crime.

On Thursday a Collin County, Texas, grand jury declined to indict a former McKinney police officer caught in a firestorm for subduing a bikini-clad Black girl at a pool party last summer, CBS Newsreports.

“We’re glad that the system worked in his favor in this case,” Tom Mills, the attorney for Eric Casebolt, told The Dallas Morning News.

The newspaper could not reach the family of 15-year-old Dajerria Becton for a comment.

A video shows Casebolt, who is White, throwing and pinning Becton to the ground, as he draws his weapon on other teenagers. He was responding to a call about rowdy behavior at a pool party in the upscale community.

The image of the White officer with a knee pressed against Becton’s back sparked outrage. For many, it was more evidence of excessive police force against African-Americans.

According to The Morning News, the Texas Rangers investigated the incident and sent its report to the county prosecutor in January.

The City of McKinney released this statement:

“On Thursday June 23, the District Attorney’s Office presented the findings of the Ranger’s investigation to a Grand Jury. The Grand Jury’s decision was to “No Bill” any charges against Eric Casebolt in relation to the June 2015 incident.”

The police department will hold a community forum on Monday evening, on the theme “Moving Forward, Strengthening Police and Community Relationships.”

As for Casebolt, he resigned four days after the incident. Mills said his client wanted the case resolved before looking for another job — perhaps in policing.